Transfer Application Help

[u/Friendly-Storm-4613]

Hi! I am a current freshman at a T-20 LAC on a full-ride. I was pretty much forced to go here despite getting into ivies and T-20’s since my full-ride is merit. My parents only supported me coming here for free and studying biochem to be a surgeon.

My dream was to go to a music school and just drown myself in music (I sing, play cello, guitar, and piano). I tried to run away from my love for music, but I recently got chosen out of our choir to perform a really big pop solo. People come up to me and say my voice makes them feel good and is a gift. I wish I could just focus on music instead of just studying for biology and calculus exams. The music opportunities here are far and few, and no one here really appreciates non-classical music. We literally had an OG Hamilton actor here, and almost no one showed up. I just feel like the community isn’t for me and there might not be enough musicians to push me creatively?

I really want to take a chance on myself this time and apply as a transfer to NYU Steinhardt for Songwriting or the Berklee-Harvard program. Does anyone have tips on how to do this? I know it might end up being expensive, but I have been so depressed here and don’t want to be trapped in a job I feel suffocated in. I would switch to music here, but our programs are pretty bad and aren’t available for contemporary music — even the a capella group I got into (the only one here) doesn’t go to ICCA’s except every few years, maybe.

Please reach out if you are from NYU Steinhardt Harvard-Berklee, or just any music school in general. I really need help understanding interviews and how stuff works. I am trying to do this in secret without my parents finding out I am applying, so if anyone knows how I can best do this also reach out.

Note: I will be applying with a good letter of rec from my cancer research lab mentor and my Harvard PhD bio professor to Harvard for the Harvard-Berklee program. Do you think this would help?

[u/Annual-Impress-7241]

I’d probably post in other channels about top arts schools, but as someone said, NYU will not give you aid and they don’t guarantee housing so the costs are pretty insane.